Dear Editor,
It seems like ignoring issues affecting Berbicians is becoming an accepted pattern by those in authority. We are being ignored about the withdrawal of the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo’s) redundancy letters; we have been ignored about economic transformative projects; we have been ignored in our complaints about noise nuisance; and we have even been ignored about our efforts to free the impounded calf at #51 Police Station. I do hope the harrowing tale of this calf will touch the hearts of those in authority!
One of the dead goats in theAlbion Police Station compound
When a close look is taken at this calf, the eyes speak of pain and agony and the face is heavily streaked with the continuous flow of rivulets of tears. It presents a heartbreaking sight as it hobbles on its broken leg, trying to balance itself as it slowly eats the grass provided. There are laws to deal with stray animals. No owners have surfaced, therefore the calf should have been dealt with as a stray and been auctioned off. Chapter 71:04 of the Laws of Guyana should be applied, since no one has come forward to claim the animal, and no one ever will.
Moreover, according to this Act, the officer in charge of the station, who is the legal pound-keeper, can be made criminally liable under Section 12 for neglecting to feed and water the calf. He can be fined and dismissed.
Furthermore, Section 16 stipulates that the animal should be Gazetted and sold after one week. It has been nearly four (4) months since this young calf is in the compound.
It must be borne in mind that no one other that the calf was injured in an accident, and only the car owner’s mirror was broken. Why should the calf be in the compound for such a long period, despite complaints made to the Guyana Society for the Prevention of cruelty to animals?
This animal cruelty is spreading like a plague. On 6th December, two goats tied by ropes died in the compound at the Albion Police Station. Is this the definition of a ‘pound’, according to the laws of Guyana? Is a pound not supposed to be a building with facilities to make the impounded animals comfortable?
I want those in authority to ponder upon this: By ignoring the show, you’re ignoring the audience who put you there!
Yours sincerely,
Haseef Yusuf
RDC Councillor,
Region 6
